Geographical Copyright for Tirupati Laddoo

The famous Tirupati Laddoo has joined the ranks of famous products with a geographical origin in successfully obtaining a Geographical Indication registry. The copyright awarded ensures that only the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TDD), a trust that administers the Venkateswara Temple in the Tirumala hills can make and sell this product. The certification further protects this right by ensuring that others cannot name or market a similar sweetmeat product using the same name.

The Tirupati Laddoo is a popular name for Sri Vari Laddu that is offered as prasadam to devotees at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh after worship. The TDD application noted that:

The size and flavour are typical characteristics of Tirupati Laddoo. Tirupati Laddoos are not produced anywhere in the world and are very unique in terms of quality, reputation and other characteristics, which go into its making.

Under GI, the right to marketing a product is tied to a definite geographical territory. The product carrying the said name must be produced, processed, prepared in that territory alone. This prevents brand name exploitation of products that acquire fame over time. The GI status come with legal protection and permits the perusal of legal action in the event of copyright infringement. GIs come under Intellectual Property Rights.

Read: DNA News

Raja Foods Recalls Bindis in USA

Most Indian women consider the bindi to be an integral part of their traditional dress. Indeed the bindi is believed to complete the attire and lend grace and elegance to the persona. Even today, many women do not step out of their homes without a pretty coloured 'bindi' on their forehead.

Yet, after sindoor, it is the bindi that has come under the radar of the US FDA.

Alleged as containing a high percentage of unsafe chemicals including lead, the bindi has as off now been forced off American shelves. Raja Foods, the primary supplier for the USA market has withdrawn bindis from the market there.

Lead is considered to be a dangerous chemical and can have serious effects on the central nervous system, kidney and heart.

Bindis are generally manufactured unchecked in India. There is no regulatory agency to oversee the production of such goods, and the market is filled with many spurious and unbranded products. Manufacturers are able to take the advantages offered to them by cheap synthetic dyes and salts to mass produce this product. The safety of such chemicals itself is in doubt.

In response to this recall, the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forest has observed that a mandatory standard does need to be established with the aim of addressing these shortcomings with a view to public health. The Drug Controller General of India still does not have any safety regulations for consumers.

It is important to note that most doctors advise that bindis should not be used if one experiences even the slightest of skin irritations.

USA Exporting Rotten Apples to India?

The Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (CABI) reported last month that apples being imported to India from the United States of America are infested with around a 100 pests. It is believed that many of these might need phytosanitary measures which are aimed at dealing with risks related to food safety.

Interestingly, officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, which is responsible for the quarantine of fruits and vegetables, had no clue about this report. On the other hand an official at the National Bureau of Plant & Genetic Resources (NBPGR) noted that India has very weak quarantine measures.

CABI, which is located in the United Kingdom notes that in all there are 381 known pests. Of these a total of 184 are present in the USA, and 111 in India.

Image via: Wikimedia Commons